Japanese man being tested for possible Ebola infection

Via Xinhua :

" The Health Ministry said Monday that a Japanese man who returned from Sierra Leone earlier this month is being tested for possible Ebola infection after he developed a fever earlier in the day.

Local media reported that the man in his 30s said he had no direct contact with Ebola patients but he "touched with his bare hands" a bag containing a body on Dec. 17 during a burial in the epidemic-hit country.

He stayed there for eight days through Dec. 21, said the Kyodo News, adding he returned to Japan on Dec. 23 and has since stayed at home at the request of authorities."

China : Four more bird flu deaths reported

Via The Standard :

" Four mainlanders have died of H7N9 bird flu and three have been infected, taking to 454 the number of people who have been sickened by the virus across the border.

But the situation is unusual in that mainland authorities have not reported to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health any outbreaks in poultry, which should be standard.

The bird flu virus usually jumps from chickens and other birds to infect humans.

The Centre for Health Protection said last night that it had received notification of the seven new cases five men and two women aged from 36 to 81 of the H7N9 strain.

Four were in Xinjiang, two in Zhejiang and one in Jiangsu, officials of the National Health and Family Planning Commission told the center."

India : Farmers begin culling in Kerala's worst hit districts

Article via Deccan Herald :

" Amid concerns over avian influenza (bird flu) spreading to more areas in Kerala, duck-rearing farmers on Wednesday took the lead in mass culling in the affected regions of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.

In Purakkad in Alappuzha district – where thousands of dead ducks were dumped on the fields – local panchayat and farmers, along with Health Department officials, began mass burning of the dead birds. 

Later, members of an action force appointed by the Animal Husbandry Department commenced mass culling and burning of the affected birds.

Similar culling drives were also initiated in Kottayam district. At least four panchayats each in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts have been identified as flu-hit areas. The flu has also been reported in neighbouring Pathanamthitta district."

16 dengue fever fatalities in Taiwan

Via Xinhua :

" A total of 13,030 Taiwan residents have contracted dengue fever this year, with 16 deaths reported, the island's disease control authorities said Tuesday.

Among the infections, 109 are diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever, the most serious type of the disease, all of whom are from the worst hit area Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that affects up to 100 million people in tropical and subtropical regions every year, causing fever and muscle pain.

This year Taiwan has experienced its worst outbreak of the disease in the past decade, exceeding previous years, when cases rarely exceeded 2,000, according to the disease control authority."

China : Guangdong sees 1,400 new dengue fever cases in two days

Via Xinhua :

" The number of dengue fever cases in south China's Guangdong Province continues rising with more than 1,400 new cases in just two days, local authorities said.

A total of 17 cities in Guangdong have reported 7,497 dengue cases this year, reaching nearly 14 times the number of the same period last year, provincial health and family planning commission said.

The figure was 6,089 just two days ago.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital, was hit hardest by the virus. A total of 6,361 cases have been reported as of Wednesday, resulting in two deaths, the commission said."

Australian traveller tested for Ebola

Article via Radio New Zealand :

" An Australian man who fell seriously ill after returning home from a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Ebola outbreak, has been taken to hospital as a precaution.

The man, aged in his twenties has been quarantined at the Gold Coast University Hospital, the ABC reported.

Queensland Health spokeswoman Heidi Carroll said the man's test results should be known in a few hours, but he could be suffering from another fever.

"This could be a person who is presented with fever and has malaria, so it's too early to tell what this patient has so we will just have to wait and see."

India, Pune : 55 test positive for dengue on single day

Via Times of India, excerpt :

" The rapid spread of dengue continues to challenge health officials, with 55 people testing positive in the city on Wednesday the highest in one day this year. The case tally for this month is now 361, which means that an average 36 people were detected with dengue every day in the last ten days.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old woman, Ashwini Dawakhare from Parvati, succumbed to the disease at Ruby Hall Clinic on Monday. She gave birth to a baby through caesarean section the same day."

Japan : 81 dengue fever cases reported in 15 prefectures

Article via Japan Today :

" he Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said Tuesday that the number of reported dengue fever cases stood at 81 in 15 prefectures as of Tuesday morning.

The ministry is working with Tokyo metropolitan government health officials to spray insecticide in three parks in Tokyo, where the disease spread by mosquitoes, is believed to have originated, TV Asahi reported.

Since the weekend, parts of Yoyogi, Shinjuku Gyoen and Meijijingu Gaien parks have been closed to the public, resulting in the cancellation of many events."

DR Congo confirms 6 Ebola cases

Article via Xinhua :

" The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi told Xinhua on Wednesday that six cases of the Ebola virus that has plagued the province of Ecuador were confirmed by laboratory tests.

"Statistics updated the field: the total number of cases reported since the beginning is 42, and six cases confirmed by laboratory, 13 probable and 23 suspect cases," said Kabange.

"The number of deaths is still 13 which five health workers. Eleven people are in isolation, six new samples were done outside of the Eight already analyzed. 168 contacts are identified and monitored," said the minister.

According to the minutes of a cabinet meeting chaired Tuesday by President Joseph Kabila, "the president also instructed the government to mobilize the budgetary resources and Avail provided against the response to this epidemic."

Hong Kong : Case of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infection under CHP investigation

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 29) investigating a case of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection affecting an 11-month-old baby boy, and hence urged the public to maintain good personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene.

The patient, with good past health, has presented with fever, cough and runny nose since July 18 and was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) on July 24 for management. He then developed convulsion yesterday (July 28) and was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day for further treatment.

The clinical diagnosis is meningitis and he is currently in serious condition.

His cerebrospinal fluid sample tested positive for Hib antigen upon laboratory testing by PYNEH.

 Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the baby boy had travelled to Manila with his family on May 4 and returned to Hong Kong on July 20. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic. Investigations are ongoing."

Malaysia : 94 Dengue Fatalities So Far This Year

Article via Bernama, excerpt :

" The number of dengue deaths this year as of last Sunday stands at 94 people, an increase of 224 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the Health Ministry.

Selangor recorded the highest fatalities at 38 people as compared to seven people last year while Johor experienced 14 deaths, double the number last year, the ministry said in a statement here today.

The ministry said Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded eight dengue fatalities as compared to seven last year."

Malaysia : Penang’s three cases of Japanese Encephalitis came from different areas, says official

Via The Malay Mail :

" The three cases of Japanese Encephalitis in Penang come from different areas in the state, Penang state executive councillor for health Dr Afif Bahardin said today, suggesting that the infections did not come from a common source.

Two cases come from George Town and Bagan Jermal in north Seberang Perai. In the third case infection is believed to have happened in Tasek Gelugor.

“There are no abattoirs or pig farms in George Town and Bagan Jermal,” Dr Alif told a press conference today.

Pigs are reservoirs for the virus that causes the disease but the Culex mosquito is responsible for passing the virus from pigs to humans."

Malaysia : Second JE victim in Penang

Via The Sun Daily, excerpt :

" A toddler in Penang has been warded at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Penang Hopsital after she became the second victim of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Penang.

The two-year-old from Bagan Jermal, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was admitted to the Seberang Jaya Hospital on June 12 before being sent for treatment here.

Penang Health Department director Datuk Lailanor Ibrahim said the girl received intensive treatment in the pediatric ICU unit.

"The girl since had been placed in the pediatric ICU unit and had received intensive treatment from the hospital," said Lailanor in a statement.

He also added that according to a specialist from Penang Hospital, the patient is recovering and is able to eat and drink."

Singapore : 'Significant increase' in dengue cases, with further rise likely - NEA

Article via Channel News Asia, excerpt :

" The National Environment Agency (NEA) has reported a “significant increase” in the number of dengue cases in Singapore, with the figures likely to rise as the weather heats up.

A total of 676 cases were reported during the week ending June 28, up from 553 the previous week, latest figures on the NEA website showed. Between June 28 and 3.30pm on July 1, there were another 265 reported cases."

Malaysia : JE kills two toddlers

Article via The Borneo Post, excerpt :

" Two toddlers, one in Tuaran and another here, died in the middle of last month due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

According to State Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi yesterday, there had been 

five cases of JE in Sabah, two of which resulted in deaths, this year.

The three other JE cases occurred earlier this year, she said.

She added that investigation had already been done on the cases and several activities had 

been carried out to destroy mosquito-breeding sites.

“We have conducted surveillance among surrounding communities, clean-up of mosquito 

breeding sites, fogging and health education,” she said.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that 16 JE 

cases were reported throughout the country this year and from the total, four have died."

Malaysia : Boy in Penang confirmed to be suffering from JE

Via The Star :

" The 12-year-old boy from Tasek Gelugor who was admitted to a private hospital here for observation is confirmed to be suffering from Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

Penang Health Department director Datuk Dr Lailanor Ibrahim, when contacted, confirmed the matter and said the boy, who is in a coma, was in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

“We have received his medical report and a test on the boy’s spinal fluid carried out by the hospital found that it was JE positive,” he said.

On Sunday, a local television station reported that the boy, from Sekolah Kebangsaan SK Kampung Selamat, was in critical condition and had fallen into a coma.

He was reported to have had high fever since May 18 and was treated at the Kepala Batas Hospital before being transferred to the private hospital."

Health Ministry records 44 H1N1 cases; no reports of coronavirus MERS in Oman

Via Times of Oman, excerpt :

" The Ministry of Health quoted its statistics to state that 44 cases of H1N1 were recorded in Oman during the second half of June 2014. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Health on Sunday said the registered cases ranged between those having minor symptoms that may not need treatment and moderate ones that need follow up at a hospital. No new deaths attributed to the virus were recorded this month.

The ministry said it has not recorded any new cases of coronavirus 'Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)' since last December."

Chinese man dies from H7N9, son infected

Via English People Daily, excerpt :

" A man in an eastern Chinese coastal city has died from the H7N9 strainof bird flu while his son is also being treated for the infection, local authorities announced onTuesday.

The man, surnamed Xin, died of acute respiratory distress and multiple organ failure onFriday, the municipal government in Yantai of Shandong Province said in a statement."

Singapore : Sharp rise in number of dengue cases last week

Via Channel News Asia :

" The number of dengue cases has seen a spike in recent weeks, said the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) in a Facebook post on Tuesday (May 27).

The spike comes ahead of the period between June and October, when dengue transmission rates are usually higher. As such, Singaporeans need to continue to protect themselves and help stop the dengue transmission cycle, the ministry said.

In its post, the MEWR said the hotter months of June to October usually see higher transmission of dengue here due to the shortened breeding and maturation cycles for the Aedes mosquitoes and shorter incubation periods for the dengue virus."

Malaysia : Disease outbreak in Johor Baru prison

Article via The Star, excerpt :

" A disease outbreak, believed to be meningitis, has occurred at the Ayer Molek prison resulting in at least four inmates being admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here.

Johor Health and Environment exco Datuk Ayub Rahmat said on Friday that about 16 inmates had displayed similar symptoms and as many as 900 inmates had undergone medical checks so far.

“Initially there were concerns that it could be a Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (Mers-Cov) outbreak but we have confirmed that it is not."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities as of yesterday (May 22) on two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Anhui affecting two men aged 69 and 58 who are now hospitalised for treatment.

A total of 429 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (108 cases), Jiangsu (54 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Hunan (23 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Anhui (17 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

Malaysia : Two more trainees down with ILI symptoms

Via The Star :

" Two more trainees at the Dusun Minda Resort in Kuala Nerang have been found with Influ-enza-like Illness (ILI) symptoms.

“As of now, 62 trainees are being monitored by medical staff. The two joined the group when they showed ILI symptoms on Monday evening,” said camp commander Lt-Kol Hasnan Rashid.

“The good news is one of them recovered and medical staff have discharged him. He was allowed to rejoin the rest of the healthy trainees (yesterday morning).”

Lt-Kol Hasnan said the trainees under observation, including the four tested positive for H1N1 virus, were in a stable condition and that “everything is under control”.

Kedah Health Department director Datuk Dr Ismail Abu Taat concurred.

“It will take about two weeks for them to recover fully. It is not life-threatening unless it afflicts those who have health problems like lung disease and diabetes or women who are pregnant,” said Dr Ismail."

India, Rajasthan : Swine flu claims one more victim in Rajasthan, toll reaches 12

Article via Hindustan Times :

" The dreaded swine flu has claimed one more life in Rajasthan, taking the death toll in the state to 12 since April 1.

A 65-year-old man Sua succumbed to the disease at JLN hospital in Ajmer Sunday, a state medical and health report said Monday.

Of these 12 swine flu related deaths in the state, three persons each died in Ajmer and Jaipur, and one victim each in Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Pali, the report said.

Deceased included six each of men and women, all aged between 26 and 65 years."

Malaysia : Number of NS trainees in Dusun Minda showing flu-like symptoms up to 61

Article via The Star, excerpt :

" The number of National Service (NS) trainees showcasing symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) from Dusun Minda Resort in Kuala Nerang, has risen from 54 to 61, seven more than reported Sunday.

Out of the 61, four have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

ILI symptoms include fever, flu, cough and sore throats.

NS director Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil reassured worried parents that its medical team had everything under control."

Three more MERS deaths in Saudi; toll reaches 160

Via The Peninsula :

" Health authorities in Saudi Arabia yesterday announced the deaths of another three people from the MERS respiratory virus, taking the country’s toll to 160.

The health ministry’s daily bulletin on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in the Gulf nation said the latest people to die were two women aged 72 and 54 and a 63-year-old man.

World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that while concern about the virus had “significantly increased”, the disease was not yet a global health emergency. Of the new cases, three had died."

Netherlands reports second MERS case

Via Xinhua :

" A second Dutch case infected of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has been confirmed, the Dutch National Institute for the Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced on Thursday.

This came just one day after the country confirmed the first case.

Both patients, who are members of a same family, had traveled together to Saudi Arabia between April 26 and May 10."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (May 14) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The patient is a 71-year-old man who lives in Meizhou. He is currently hospitalised for treatment.

 A total of 423 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (106 cases), Jiangsu (53 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Hunan (23 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Anhui (14 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

US : Florida hospital workers being monitored after MERS exposure

Article via The Detroit News, excerpt :

" Employees at two Orlando hospitals who came in contact with a Saudi resident infected by the second confirmed U.S. case of a rare virus are being monitored for symptoms and have been told to stay home for two weeks, health officials said Tuesday.

Fifteen hospital workers at Dr. Phillips Hospital and another five employees at Orlando Regional Medical Center were being monitored at home for fever, chills and muscle aches, said Dr. Antonio Crespo, an official with the hospital system.

So far, none of them has tested positive for MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. MERS is a respiratory illness that begins with flu-like fever and cough but can lead to shortness of breath, pneumonia and death."

MERS Coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia increases to 480, including 139 deaths

Via Xinhua, excerpt :

" Saudi Arabia's registered number of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus cases has increased to 480 by Saturday, including 139 deaths, after adding six new cases and six more deaths, the country's Health Ministry said.

One of the deaths was diagnosed and died in the last 24 hours, while the rest were of previous critical cases, according to the Health Ministry portal.

Of the six new cases, one is receiving treatment at the ICU, three in stable condition and two without symptoms. Three of the new cases are from Riyadh, two from Jeddah and the rest one from Mecca.

In addition, another six cases, two men and four women, have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Besides those daily statistics, the ministry on Saturday also denied some press reports that the newly appointed acting health minister had been infected with the virus, saying the news are baseless and the minister is in good health."

Malaysia : Indonesian Man Dies Onboard AIRASIA X Flight From Jeddah

Via NTV7 News :

" A 64-year old Indonesian man died onboard an AirAsia X flight which left Jeddah en route to Kuala Lumpur last night.

The Health Ministry is now taking precautionary measures following the current spike in numbers of those affected with the Middle East respiratory virus MERS worldwide.

AirAsia X in a statement said, the family of the deceased has been informed.

The victim was believed to have been on his way home to Jakarta via Kuala Lumpur after performing the umrah.

His remains have been brought to the Serdang Hospital Forensic Unit for post mortem.

He added that most of the passengers on the AirAsia X D7 171 flight were Indonesians.

Meanwhile all the Malaysians who were onboard the same flight will undergo further preventive medical checkups in due time."